title: Perceptions of diabetes obtained through drawing in childhood and adolescence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether drawing is useful in the detection of problems of psychosocial adaptation in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and in improving communication with health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an exploratory descriptive study in 199 children and adolescents with T1D aged 4-13 years. The participants were asked to render a drawing on a suggested topic. The variables analyzed were related to the drawing and to clinical and sociodemographic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants showed evidence of having a well-balanced personality, but there were also signs of affective or psychosocial difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drawing is a useful technique by which to identify children's and adolescents' feelings and possible problems in adapting to T1D, as well as to gain information directly from the children themselves. Future studies should delimit the possibilities of this technique in clinical practice in greater detail.
authors.affiliation: Nursing School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Isla Pera
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacin Lois
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López Matheu
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honrubia Pérez
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gómez Rodriguez
authors.forename: Eulalia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armengol Camps
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez Villalba
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Insa Soria
authors.forename: Assumpta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rigol Cuadra
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marre
keywords: childhood and adolescence; drawing; psychosocial factors; type 1 diabetes mellitus